InTheArenaOnline

With Senator Michelle Fischbach assuming the role of Lt. Governor, there will be an election to replace her in November.  I am honored to have her support as I step forward to run for the Senate.   Michelle has been a great Senator for our area and a mentor and friend to me –we will miss her leadership here in Stearns and Benton Counties.  My whole career has been about service.  Today I am taking the knowledge and experience gained in the Minnesota House to a broader level of service in the Senate.  I look forward to meeting the voters of Senate District 13 this summer and fall.  Please call me with any questions or if you want to join our team.

Important Issues I Want To Tackle:

Jobs:

As a small business owner myself, I understand the amount of hard work and determination it takes to make it through to the next year.  I don’t believe we should be burdening business owners with unfunded mandates and regulations interfering with everyday free market transactions.  Job providers are the key to preserving Minnesota as one of the best states in the nation to live.  If elected, I will work to make sure over regulation does not interrupt that.

Taxes:

We do not have a revenue problem in Minnesota.  We have a spending problem.  I want to make sure every hard earned tax dollar that the government receives is spent wisely.  If a working Minnesota family has to make a budget so the bills get paid. There is no reason why the State Government can’t to that either.  I plan to focus on meaningful tax reform and to make sure St. Paul doesn’t leave more debt for our children.

Restoring Local Control:

The citizens of District 13A can decide what they need from their elected representatives on their own.  My years in local government have shown me how corrosive these laws can be on our small town communities.  As your representative, I will make it a priority to ensure more power is given back to the local elected officials where it belongs.

Transportation:

Transportation is a constitutional mandate to our legislature.  We need to make transportation a priority in our budget.  We must integrate our roads, rail and transit into a system.  Our current transportation system is not integrated and operates as separate entities.  Having served as an Army Transportation Officer for over 20 years with assignments all over the world gives me a unique understanding of what is takes to operate and maintain a transportation system.  I have served on the Transportation Finance committee and will be an advocate or transportation funding that serves our entire state to include our rural area.

Education:

Another legislative constitutional mandate is Education.  The school funding formula is very complex and difficult to understand.  This must change.  I believe we should completely overhaul the current system and return to a system that is simple, balanced and fair.  Minneapolis and St. Paul should not receive $3000 per student more in funding than rural schools.  We need to have a fair and balanced approach that provides for all students throughout Minnesota.  I have talked to Superintendents, Principles, School Teachers and parents in an effort to find a workable solution.

Veterans:

Minnesota should be considered  veteran friendly state but it is not.  When Service Members retire out of the Service they receive a list of veteran friendly states.  Our great state of Minnesota is not among them.  We must change that and bring those highly trained, motivated veterans to Minnesota.